Automatic musical instrument.



PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907. T. DANQUARD'.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLIGATIQN FILED MAY 10. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 No. 872,611. PATENTED DEC. 3, 190?. T. DANQUARD. AUToMATIc MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATIOI FILED HAY 10. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 y a avd (T/Uasses 1 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIC.

THOMAS DANQUARD, OF NEW YORK, 1\*. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AUTOPIANO COLE-ANY, OI NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, T noMAs DANQUARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State v of New York, have inventeda new and useful Automatic Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic musical instruments which are controlled. by rolls or strips of perforated paper.

The especial object of this invention is to provide simple, convenient and efficient con nections for controlling the music sheet so as to permit sharply defined phrasing and accenting of a musical composition and to pro vide an adjustable stop mechanism there for.

To these ends, this-invention consists of finger-key and-its connections for ID0111011- tarily stopping the winding motor as herein-- after described and more particularly set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional View of sufficient parts of an automatic piano-player or similar musical instrument to illustrate the application of this invention thereto, and Fig. 2 is a.

front view partly broken away showing the relation of the finger-key to the winding mechanlsm.

In playing upon automatic piano-players in which a pneumatic strikmg of that class action iscontrolled by a strip of perforated paper, it has been found that it is dosir le to interrupt and momentarily stop the ti avei of the music sheet whenever a marked phr re or accented chord is to be played. This has heretofore ordinarily been done by shifting the tempo-lever.

The production of retarded effects by shifting the tempo-lever of a piano-player requires a considerable degree of skill, and is apt tobe objectionable as the tempo-lever is not-always returned accurately to the same 1. music-roll, and which is adapted to be read ily controlled by the finger oi the operator to give a momentary pause to the travel of the music-sheet whenever a retarded effect is desired.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detail description of an ppai'atus embodying this invention, as shown in. Fig.1, 1O designates the curing of piano-player constructed according to this invention. Mounted inside the i ing an l in the botto A part thereof are the usual e. each of which consists the inclii d boa d 11 and the swinging board i rich is connected by link 13 to a pedal The feeders ust the air from a main air chamber 1.) -.hich may be connected to supply a pneumatic striking action in the ordinary manner,

ioh. need not be herein. shown or de- S ll ad] 1;; from the main air amber passage it? which opensto the inside or pneumatic governor device havir plate 17 which is normall spring, but which when c the passage 16 to at wind motor in the from the oi dew-3e is assage As illus tra pas in a roll to 6, board as t music-roll 23.

The parts-as this far der '1 y recognized by those who are I in the art as theordinary and usual par nployed in piano-plavers of the class to which this invention relates.

Referring now to the finger-key and its connection for producing retarded effects. As shown in Fig. i, the iingenkey A is connected by a vertical rod B to a bell-crank lever C. The bcli-crenk leverfl heidin normal position by a light spr 1g 1), and mounted to engage the movable member of the pneumatic not. nor device 1'7 so as to l w. lBJEI the inmnen- 1.10

hold the same tion upon the taxy stoppage or retard "of travel or the music-sheet isdesired. In the use of a pianolayr as thus-equipped" the finger of the pera'tor strikes. directly, down upon the finge'r'butt'onfand has a direct locking ac neumaticlgovernor device, and I have found nections an accurate and direct control may be maintained of the travel oi the music sheet.

In assembling'the parts of a mechanism for controlling a piano-player according to this invention, it is very desirable that some means vof adjustment may be provided for regulating the height that the finger key A extends above its top board and length: of

the stroke that must-be given to the finger key. Invorder; to'st0p the music sheet I have jhstably threa ed thereon. By screwingain provided means for accomplishing this b roviding a sto -rodhaving a button 25 a the button 2'5 the 0 ening motion of the pneumatic governor evice may be limited so that a comparatively short stroke on the finger button A will serve to .hold the pneumatic governor'device closed, While by screwing out the regulating button 25 the matic governor device may be allowe any desired amount of o ening which may be found to be necessary tor successful 0 eration in the use of a mechanism constructe according to this invention. i

r In order to produce an accented or marked effect, the operator will press more powerfully upon the pedals just before the perforations which correspond to a chord which it is desiredto accent or sound loudercome over the perforations in the tracker-board and simultaneously with the sounding of the note-the operator pushes down on the retard and accent key A, momentarily stopping the travel of the music sheet to produce the that by means of these -con-.

same kind ofveflects which are produced by involuntary pauses made by a skillfulperformer in accenting 'a note or chord while pla 'ng a piano by hand.

I am aware that changes maybe made'in applying my invention to difierentsty'les her, a fingerkey connected to hold the movable member of the neum-atic closed when lapsible pneumatic having a movable memthe retarded effect is esired, a stop rod fixed in stationary position and connected with the movable member-of the pneumatic, and a button adj ustably. mounted on the stop rod for limiting the stroke of the finger key.'

2. In an instrument of the class described,

the combination of the'paper winding mech-' anism, a wind motor, a pneumatic governor mechanism for the wind motor comprisin a collapsible neumatic having a mova le hinged mem er, a finger key connected to hold the movable member of the pneumatic closed when a retard effect is desired, and an adjustable stop mechanism limiting the stroke of the finger key.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesse THOMAS DANQUARD.

Witnesses:

CHAS. EVERETT NEIER, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

